Toy or puzzle.



- ATENTED JAN 31,

E. L. SMITH. TOY 0R PUZZLE. APP LIGATION FILED .JUENE 24, 11304.

, U IT D ST TES] Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR L. SMITH, OF' CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOGEORGE V. S. MIOHAELIS, OF CAMBRIDGE,MASSACHUSETTS.

TOY OR PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,564, dated January31 T905.

' App1ication filed June 24,1904. Serial No. 213,988-

To all whom) it mag concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing in (Jambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Toys or Puzzles, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letbers, whereby difficulty is experienced inconnecting the engaging devices of said members. The members referred tomay and preferably will be metal balls, and the engaging devices may bemade of wire, one in the form of an eye-and the other in the form'of ahook,

which is to be engaged. with the said eye to solve the puzzle.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a planview of a box or case containing the members of a toyor puzzle embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a section onthe line 2 2,Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and h 'details in plan, on an enlarged scale,of themembers shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6, side elevations of the membersshown in Figs. 3 and 4;Figs. 7 and 8, details showing the members in adifferent position from that shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a I) represent two balls or spheres, whichmay and preferably will be made of metaland which constitute themembersof the toy or puzzle. The balls a bare provided with engagingdevices 0 (Z, one of which, as c, is made in the form of a hook, and theother of which, as d, 'is made in the form of an eye, which is adaptedto be engaged by the hook 0, so as to join, lock, or connect the membersa I) together. The engaging devices 0 d are'secured to the members a bin such manner as to render said members of unstable equilibrium, and inthe present instance the engaging devices are semovable orform part of acured to the balls or members a I) at one side 5 of the center of thesame.

The engaging devices 0 (Z are provided with laterally extended portionsor wings f g,

which serve to arrest rotation of the balls at b. The hook and its wingsf g may be made the hook with the eye, and thus join or con- 5 nect thetwo members together without handling the same. The smooth surface Itmayv form part of the surface of the bottom of a box or case i, which,if desired, may be provided with a glass top j, which may be re- 7removable cover for the box. v y

As represented in Figs. 1 and 2 the mem bers a b are disconnected,andthe puzzle is solved when the said members are connected by movementof the box or case or other support for said members. Thelaterally-extended wings f g serve to prevent continuous rotation of thespherical members.

The hooked engaging device may be pro- 30 vided with a tongue Zc, whichwill not interfere with the engagement of the hook c with the eye 0?,but which willdisengagement thereof.

The support for the members at may be 5 the bottom of a box, as hereinshownrbut I do not'desire to limit my'invention in this respect, as anysuitable flat substantiallysmooth surface may be'employed.

In operationth'e members a 5, disconnected 9 from each other,are placedupon the support it, which is then shaken or agitated to cause the saidmembers to roll or tumble upon the support until the eye d is engagedwith the hooko, which is the solution of the puzzle or game. The tonguekpermits the eye (Z to pass by it and engage the-hook 0, but preventsthe prevent accidental eye 0Z from'passing back out of engagement withthe hook 0 until said tongue is positively depressed by the operator toeffect separation of the members a I) \vhenit is desired to again playthe game. The tongue I; is of sufficient resiliency to return to itsnormal position after the pressure is removed.

Access may be had to the members a b to disengage the same by removingthe cover or top 1 claim 1. A toy or puzzle comprising rotatable membershaving engaging devices extended from them and adapted to be engaged byagitation of said rotatable members and means to support said members,substantially as described.

2. A toy or puzzle comprising substantially spherical members providedwith engagingl devices secured to said members oil" the center andextended from them, said engaging devices having wings and means tosupport said members, substantially as described.

3. A toy or puzzle comprising two members of unstable equilibrium andhaving engaging devices which are normally disconnected but are adaptedto be connected to-

